Chapter 3
Alloy knocked on the door leading into Krunk's garage. He knew he was in there from the noisy whirring from his tools and loudly running machinery. There was also older music playing. Alloy could just make out the opening lyrics of Krunk's favorite song. He moved away from the door after a few more attempts at knocking. Krunk probably couldn't hear it. Alloy gave up and turned to leave. It was at that moment he heard scratching on the door. It was quickly followed up by familiar barks. The noises in the garage stopped.
"Alright, alright, ya crazy mutt, I'm gettin' it!"
Krunk's irate yell came through from the other side of the door. He swung it open and found Alloy there.
"Oh, it's just you." Krunk lifted his welder helmet. "What do you need?"
"A talk," Alloy said. "You got a minute?"
Krunk looked at the clock he kept on the wall in his garage. After studying the time, he let out a mild sigh and turned back to Alloy. "Argh, fine," he muttered.
Alloy found himself beaming inside a little. Krunk actually meant he was more than welcome to come in and join him.
It didn't take long for Krunk to have a fresh set of drinks prepared for them. Alloy lifted the glass to his lips and relaxed in the chair across from his old friend. The flavor of the bourbon comforted him as he felt the warmth of the late afternoon sun through the window. The rays formed shiny, gold slivers on the table as they managed their way through the blinds. Krunk had his music turned down just enough so they could talk. The radio station switched to a break before playing the next song. Krunk having music on every time Alloy came to visit was customary. It was one of the ways Krunk made the garage his. Alloy enjoyed the familiarities of the haven. Even the smell of motor oil and cleaning supplies did wonders in helping him escape his own work for a spell.
Alloy took another drink. At one point, he saw Krunk reading him from the other side of his own glass. He could apparently tell Alloy wasn't doing the best. Krunk put his whiskey down to look at him fully.
"So you gonna talk or what?" he demanded. "Or are you just gonna sit there and drink from your sippy cup?"
"Ah, right." Alloy put aside his glass.
"This better not be about Boy Wonder!" Krunk asserted. "If I hear anything else about him, my auditory sensors'll bleed."
"How'd you know?" Alloy asked.
"Are you frickin' kiddin' me?" Krunk said. "I know you're still wallowing over him. Admit it: ya cry yourself to sleep over the kid every night."
"Well that's pushin' it a bit, don't ya think?" Alloy mildly asked.
A tiny whimpering noise made them both glance down. Zobby had come up to the table. His sad doggy face put a knot in Alloy's chest.
Krunk sighed. "The mutt misses him, too," he admitted. "And…well…"
Alloy waited for him to say it.
"Ok, ok!" Krunk finally gave in. "I miss the boy, too!"
"Aw, there it is!" Alloy chuckled.
"Why the hell won't he come back?" Krunk whined. "What's so daggum important out there that it's keeping him away from here?"
"The Morbot gateways, he said," Alloy told him.
Krunk finished his drink. "Naw, that ain't it. That ain't all of it, I mean."
"What else, then?"
"It's probably that girl he met," Krunk hypothesized. "Yeah, I bet that's part of it." He scoffed. "A big part of it," he spitefully added. "That's the only thing that can keep a man gone for so long. A young one at that." His glower rested on his glass. "Damn women Droids," he grouched. "They'll reel ya in, then break ya heart. I'm glad they're almost extinct."
"You can't mean that," Alloy protested.
"I do," Krunk bitterly persisted. "Vindictive and crazy. All of 'em, every last one. It's like they're all defective straight off the assembly line."
"Oh, calm down, will you?" Alloy said, rolling his eyes. "Just because you had a rough experience in your heyday doesn't mean they're all bad."
"Says the guy who's had plenty of his own."
Alloy shrugged. "Well, yeah, but, I moved on from them."
"Whatever," Krunk spat. "Bottom line is, most she-Droids can't be trusted. I bet that girly's the same exact way. She's waitin' for the Boy Scout to get nice and comfortable first. She'll wait 'til they're married with kiddos. Then, she'll leave his ass high and dry. Moneyless, with not a washer to his name!"
"Oh, for Pete's sake, Krunk, you haven't even met her," Alloy argued.
"Well, I guess you're right," said Krunk. "I'll give 'er the benefit of the doubt. She might not be the type to run off with his foot."
Alloy had just poured himself another drink. He almost choked on it when he heard Krunk. "What…?" he sputtered.
Krunk didn't seem to hear him. If he did, he chose to change the subject. "So, anyway," he went on, "what's this damsel like? I wanna at least know if the boy's got good taste."
Alloy took a moment to recall her: Rev, the young she-Droid. He thought of the first time he saw her. She was shaken up from the train wreck, but even then she had spunk. Alloy got to know her better during their period of time in the tundra. They didn't exchange too many words, but Alloy could tell she was a great pick for Glitch. He gathered a good way to describe her to Krunk. "I think the soldier chose right," he said to him. "She's a fighter, just like him, I can tell."
"Looks?" Krunk inquired. "Plain Jane? Girly? What?"
"She's not a plain Jane," Alloy relayed. "She's pretty. Real pretty. But I wouldn't say she's a girly-girl. Tomboyish, sporty." Alloy smiled as he took a drink.
"Ah." Krunk nodded. "Tomboy, huh?" He picked up on Alloy's expression mid-pour of his second drink. "What?"
"He's got a thing for green optics," Alloy revealed. "Like you used to."
"Oh, shut up, already!" Krunk snapped.
Alloy laughed.
"Is this all you came in here to talk about?" Krunk demanded. "If it is, then f* off."
"Nah." Alloy paused suddenly. He found himself absentmindedly swirling around his bourbon.
"What, then?" Krunk asked.
"I'm still trying to figure out the mystery with the chip," Alloy said.
Krunk rolled his eyes. "You're still on that? For cryin' out loud, give it up. I got the chip back and that's all that matters to me."
"Well, I'm glad you're happy," Alloy replied, feigning sarcasm. "It doesn't make sense. Who in the world turned it up? It didn't just waltz into the camp by itself."
Krunk didn't care. He resumed drinking while Alloy pondered. It wasn't like they had anyone working undercover in Dr. Exavolt's circle. So who could it have been?
"Whatever the case may be, it's back where it belongs." Krunk spoke up, almost as if he had read Alloy's mind. "Any news on Wingman, by the way?"
"Vex?" Alloy shook his head. "Nope. Not a thing. His trail's gone cold." Vex had become the Droid Rebellion's most wanted bot. Ever since they learned he was a spy, Alloy made sure the Rebellion pursued his whereabouts. They searched for him around the clock. But after the breadcrumbs led them to the tundra, they couldn't find anything else. Vex seemingly disappeared from the face of the planet. It made sense for him not to show up in Droid Town again. It was possible he had a hunch he'd been found out, whether through a tip or different means.
"Stop worrying so much, Alloy!" Krunk ordered. "Your metal's gonna tarnish quicker than mine if you don't keep down your stress."
"I know." Alloy's smile came back. "That's why I came to hang out with you."
His words clearly affected Krunk in some way. He saw his face change. A couple of seconds went by before Krunk averted his gaze with an audibly annoyed sound. Alloy continued smiling. He knew Krunk wasn't really annoyed deep down. He knew him long enough to have familiarized himself with his body language. It was in his eyes, mostly—those beady, mismatched blue beams of light. It took Alloy a while to learn that, but now he had it down to a science.
"We've known each other for a long time now, Krunk, old pal," Alloy told him.
Krunk rolled his eyes again. "What're you tryin' to do, propose to me?" he complained.
"Of course not!" Alloy laughed. "I just wanna know how you ended up with only one foot!"
"Hell no!" Krunk slammed down his glass. "That's outta the f*in' question, ya hear?"
Alloy eased off, still laughing. He always thought Krunk lost his right foot to a Mil or through some other valiant effort. But judging from his flushed expression, it must've had something to do with that "rough experience" of his all those years ago. For another time, perhaps! Alloy fondly thought.
Krunk took another drink of bourbon. He stopped grumbling under his breath after a while to peer at Alloy again past his glass.
"Wanna play cards?"
His offer left Alloy astonished. "Cards? You? Since when are you in the mood for anything besides complaining?"
"I'm havin' drinks with ya, aren't I?" Krunk bantered, smirking.
"Ha! True!" Alloy said. "Very true, indeed!"
Krunk suddenly stared down at the floor. Alloy quietly analyzed him. While Krunk didn't appear troubled, it was obvious he had a thought on his mind.
"…ppreciate your company," he mumbled.
Alloy didn't catch what he said. He leaned forward a little. "What'd you say?" he asked.
"I said I appreciate your company," Krunk huffed. "There, happy?"
Alloy felt his delighted smile come back, almost instinctively. "So you're not trying to get rid of me so soon after all."
"Just shut up while I get the deck," Krunk groused.
He disappeared for a moment. Alloy took that time to interact with Zobby. He hadn't been able to see Krunk's dog as much during the time he was back from the last mission. Zobby was pleased to have him around; he let Alloy pet him. As he did, Alloy simply couldn't ignore the gloominess in the big Droid canine's movements. He missed Glitch more than anyone, perhaps even more than Alloy himself.
"He'll be back, boyo," Alloy soothed. "He'll be back." If only he could be more sure of that himself.
Krunk emerged again with the deck of cards a minute later. He began laying them out for himself and Alloy. "I hope these are all of 'em," he said.
"Where's the box they came in?" Alloy asked.
"Why don't you ask that one?" Krunk pointed at Zobby. "Darn dog chewed it up."
"Aw, Krunk…" Alloy amusedly shook his head while picking up his stack of cards.
"I'm gonna beat ya this time, Commando Man," Krunk vowed. "You ain't gonna be the king for much longer."
"We'll see about that!" Alloy challenged.
They spent the rest of their afternoon playing each other.
...
Krunk decided to turn in early that evening. He was more tired than usual after all the time he dedicated to recent projects. Once he was done with his last bit of work, he wiped the grease from his brows and got ready to close up the garage. Just as he was about to flip off the main lights, something caught his attention. He looked over at a large structure he kept in the corner. The mech that was once General Corrosive seemed to stare down at him. Krunk slapped a hand onto his forehead, aggravated. He forgot to cover it with the tarp. It was a pain in the axle, even with help.
"Mr. Krunk?"
The voice nearly startled him. He whipped around to find Shooter walking up from another part of the garage. "What?" he demanded.
Shooter halted. "Oh! Er, nothing, really!" he said. "I just, uh, wondered if you needed help with anything else before I left?"
Krunk hesitated. Part of him wished to go off on Shooter more for scaring the bolts out of him. But there was something about his bashful demeanor and helpful attitude that made Krunk reconsider. He gave a nod. "Fine, fine," he agreed finally. "Come help me cover this stupid thing up."
Shooter followed him closer to the mech. They were a couple of feet away when Krunk noticed Shooter tense up. He stopped and glared at him.
Shooter blinked at him. "Is something wrong?"
"I should be asking you that," Krunk shot at him. "What the hell's your problem? You look like you're gonna leak yourself all of a sudden!"
"Uh, nothing!" Shooter plastered on a smile as he tried righting himself. "I'm good! I'm okay!"
Krunk rolled his eyes and resumed the task. He was certain Shooter's fear came from the mech suit. It occurred to Krunk that this was technically Shooter's first time seeing Corrosive up close and personal, even if it was only his outer shell. He pulled out the big, rolled up tarp and carried it up to a platform with Shooter's aid. They sat it down and unrolled it. Shooter took the opposite corners and went to the other end of the platform. They were positioned directly over the mech.
"Ready?" Krunk asked.
"For…for what?" Shooter questioned, confused.
"To throw it on, dummy!" Krunk yelled.
"Oh!" Shooter scratched his head. "Right. Yes, I'm ready!"
"One, two, three."
They threw the tarp over the mech's head together. It fell down over the rest of the body. Krunk made one last adjustment to the fabric on top. He saw Shooter looking at him when he was done.
"Did ya lose somethin' over here?"
His brusque response made Shooter stiffen up. Krunk couldn't believe how jumpy he was. In all his years, he had never seen a young Droid as awkward as the geeky one standing before him now. They walked back downstairs together.
"Um, Mr. Krunk, sir?" Shooter managed to speak up.
Krunk flipped off another light. "Yeah, what?" he sighed.
"What's the mech for?" Shooter asked.
"What do you think, nerd?" Krunk said. "War! What else?"
"How long have you been working on it?"
"It's already done. I finished it months ago."
"Oh." Shooter pointed to it, appearing slightly confused. "So why do you…"
"To check on it! Aye-yai-yai!" Krunk impatiently folded two of his four arms. "Do you always ask so many frickin' questions?" he queried. "How did Glitch put up with that?"
Shooter went silent and turned away. Krunk realized how he came off and decided to pull the reins back. He understood Shooter and Glitch were close friends. Glitch's absence meant just as much to him as anyone else.
"I'm sorry," Krunk said. "If you're gonna be workin' for me, we might as well get acquainted, or whatever."
"Er, of course!" Shooter agreed.
"What made you wanna work for the Rebellion, anyway?" Krunk asked him. "Guy like you usually pushed pencils for a living when I was your age."
It took Shooter a while to answer. Krunk could tell he had been deeply affected by something. He remembered Shooter joined the stealth mission in the polar regions. A lot happened out there, based on what Alloy recounted to Krunk. They lost two other units and one Droid from theirs, and they barely escaped themselves. Shooter had a forlornness in his eyes that couldn't be missed. The experience left a profound impact on him.
"I want to help." He looked up finally. "I wanna help end this war once and for all." He glanced toward the covered up mech. "I want it to be over. When I saw Corrosive's old body, for a moment I thought it was." Shooter lowered his optics. "But then I remembered everything else," he went on. "The invasions, the mission in the tundra…" He shook his head to push the thoughts away. "Lives have been lost," he said. "And I feel like it's only the beginning. Who am I to just sit around while the world's under attack?"
Krunk dipped his head. "I get it," he told him. "You wanna do your part."
Shooter shrugged with a small laugh. "Sometimes I don't feel like I do enough," he admitted. "I know I have brains, but, I guess I'm just not using them to the fullest."
Krunk could only listen to him at first. Surprisingly, he found himself feeling sympathetic—empathetic, even. Suddenly, Shooter was no longer just some wiry little nerd that he got stuck with. He could see a piece of himself. He wasn't used to it and shifted back and forth on his foot and leg stub. Shooter was just like him, without the exterior. How couldn't he see that until now?
"Well, I guess I'll be heading home now, Mr. Krunk!" Shooter turned to leave. It jolted Krunk out of his thoughts and he stepped forward.
"Wait," he said.
Shooter glanced at him over his shoulder. "Yes, sir?"
"Aren't you some kind of weapon expert or something?" Krunk asked him. "You're certified, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Shooter confirmed with a nod.
"Well what the f* are you doin' in mechanics?" Krunk snapped. "Go sign up for the weapons division! They could always use another specialist! Go on, go, shoo, do it first thing tomorrow."
Shooter's face brightened. "You got it, Mr. Krunk!" he exclaimed.
Krunk watched him go with a smile. Once Shooter left, he finished closing up the garage to head out himself. He took his toolbox, Tooly, and deactivated him for the night. "Alright, get some shuteye, you," Krunk said to him as he placed him on a shelf. He glanced around. "Where'd that dog go?" he quietly wondered. He called out for him. "Zobby! Zobby, here!"
Zobby ran from the back of the garage when he heard his name. He slowed to a trot as he reached Krunk, happily wagging his tail as he felt his hand pat his head.
"C'mon, boy." Krunk led him out the back door.
He had an attachment in the back of the building. Alloy offered to buy him a place of his own farther out, but he preferred to stay close to his work. Zobby sat next to him while he unlocked the door. Not even two seconds went by before he shot past him to get inside.
"Haven't you heard of waiting?" Krunk griped. "I programmed you with better manners than that!"
Zobby reached his bed. He eagerly trodded over it in multiple circles, then plopped down. Krunk closed and locked the door behind him and set aside his things. He flipped the switch. The lights brightened up the quaint living space. A studio-sized abode was all Krunk felt he needed to be comfortable. He always kept the place tidy like he did his garage. Contrary to his messy job, he was a neat freak.
Krunk took off his work gear and got ready to turn in. Routinely, he cracked open a cold can, flipped on his TV, and crashed in front of it. The sofa took years off his old back and joints the minute he got comfortable. How happy he was to be out of the garage. There was a time when he enjoyed the work he did there—the long hours with his machinery and inventions. But that was before his age caught up with him, before he was worn down by the fate of the world. Krunk scoffed under his breath. Who was he kidding? He didn't miss being young. Or, did he?
Of course he didn't. That, at least, was what he tried telling himself. However, as he thought of Shooter, he couldn't help but be reminded of that part of his life. The show on TV cut to a commercial break. It gave him a chance to look at his right leg. He wiggled it slightly. Even after so many years, he sometimes expected to see a foot moving at the end. But that foot was long gone, and so was the individual who hurried off with it, perhaps.
Just because you had a rough experience in your heyday doesn't mean they're all bad.
Alloy's words replayed in Krunk's head. While he disagreed with his commander friend in that moment, Krunk knew he was right in the back of his mind. It was just hard to believe after so long. He thought about the girl Glitch met, the one he likely spent a great deal of time with in the Droid settlement out west. Krunk failed to suppress a subtle smile. He had a feeling the Boy Scout was luckier than him and Alloy combined. From the way Alloy described the girl, he was. Krunk smiled more at the thought as he finished his drink and threw the can toward the wastebasket nearby. It bounced off the rim and hit the carpet, where it rolled back to the sofa. Krunk decided he would pick it up later as he drifted off in front of the TV.
He was almost asleep when there was a loud crash against his front door. Krunk quickly sat up on the sofa. The bang was immediately followed up by another. His optics fell on the doorknob. A hand twisted it firmly on the other side. The door was hit a third time, threatening to fly off the hinges. Krunk jumped up from the sofa with a pit in his stomach. He was being broken in on.
Krunk hurried over to the window and carefully peaked through the blinds. He saw the potential assailant outside the door and his core skipped a beat. It was enough to make him stumble back from the blinds in horror. He quickly switched off the lights and retreated with Zobby.
The intruder successfully busted their way inside. By then, Krunk was hiding in his bathroom. He crouched on the other side of the door. Zobby nervously stayed at his side, pressed to the floor with his ears folded back. A tiny whine escaped his lips and Krunk shushed him. He told Zobby to get back while he quietly cracked the door to see out. He had a clear view of the intruder. It was a Mil. Krunk watched it scour the dark living space in search of inhabitants. It was one of the highly advanced ones from before.
Krunk motioned for Zobby to stay put. He opened the door a bit wider and moved out of the bathroom, creeping along the carpeted floor until he reached his sofa. Krunk hid behind it, armed with his Control Tether. He carefully peered around the sofa to see the Milbot. It continued looking around the studio attachment. The search became more aggressive the longer it went without finding anything. The Mil stopped at Krunk's charging bed in the corner, where it violently flipped the mattress from the frame. It went over to his kitchenette next. Krunk watched it rip the cabinet doors off their hinges and throw cookware. He didn't like what it was doing, but he waited patiently regardless. All he needed was for the bot to get closer and have its back turned.
His opportunity arrived once the Mil returned to the center of the attachment. It stood in front of the sofa and studied the TV. The moving pictures seemed to captivate it. Krunk took advantage of the distraction. He inched from behind the sofa and aimed his Control Tether at its back. The Mil moved a little. Krunk adjusted himself to get a better position.
His foot hit the empty drink can he left on the floor. The loud "tink" alerted the Milbot. It turned around and scanned the area behind it. Krunk wasn't able to duck behind the sofa in time. The Mil's glowing glare pierced him through the dark, stopping him cold. Krunk tensed up with fear. He couldn't move from the Mil's reach fast enough before it grabbed him by the throat. He immediately felt the air drain from his body as the iron grip on his neck tightened. At some point, Krunk heard barks and managed to see behind him. Zobby had fearfully poked his head out of the bathroom, likely after hearing his choking sounds.
"Get…help…you idiot!" Krunk rasped.
He thought his words were inaudible, but Zobby heard them. He hurried out of the studio attachment, still barking. Krunk waved his torch in the Mil's face. The flame forced it to break apart from him. He dropped to the floor, gasping for breath. The Mil went at him again. Krunk looked up to see its foot colliding with his face. He tumbled across the carpet. The Mil grabbed him by one of his four arms and slung him into the TV. He was barely conscious after the impact. The shrapnel from the broken television set was about to be one of the last things he ever saw. He lay in it, waiting for the Milbot to do its worst. He managed to get a look at the gun it wielded, right before a blast detonated from the end of the barrel.
...
"Stay cool. You got this."
Glitch told himself that over and over outside of Mister Fixit's front door. He was not looking forward to dinner at his place. If it wasn't for the opportunity it gave Glitch to see Rev and Drill-Bit, he would've thought of an excuse not to go. Dr. Axon told him there would be nothing to worry about, but he just couldn't be sure. Glitch tried picturing a pleasant, home-cooked meal from Mister Fixit's hands. All he could see was the murky, sludgy beverage, instead. He put the thought out of his mind and rang the doorbell.
Mister Fixit answered it. His optics lit up with joy as soon as they landed on Glitch. He elatedly threw out his arms. "Well, I'll be!" he exclaimed. "Look who showed up!"
"Hi, Mister Fixit." Glitch put on a brave face. There was no turning back now.
"Come on in, partner, you're right on time! The food's 'bout ready!" Mister Fixit led him into the house. Glitch took a deep breath and followed. When they emerged from the foyer, he noticed something felt different. He scanned every room they passed. Most of them were almost completely cleared out. Glitch couldn't believe his eyes. He stopped when they reached the dining room.
"You're cleaning the house!" he observed.
"Ah, yeah." Mister Fixit donned a proud smile. "I figured it was 'bout time!"
"That's…awesome!" Glitch praised. "Really, it is!"
His commendation clearly had a positive effect on Mister Fixit. Glitch was still in disbelief. Maybe this was why Dr. Axon told him dinner would be fine.
Mister Fixit continued gazing at him. Glitch picked up on the look in his eyes. There was something on his mind. He turned away momentarily, then looked in Glitch's direction again.
"Say, son?" He spoke up. "I, uh…wanted to tell ya I'm sorry for the way I treated ya."
Glitch didn't expect that. He already knew Mister Fixit trusted him again from the dinner invitation alone. He didn't think he would go the extra mile with a verbal apology. Nonetheless, Glitch gladly accepted. "It's okay, Mister Fixit," he said.
"Motorbug'll be comin' in here soon," Mister Fixit told him. "You can go 'head and get comfortable!" He poked his head out into the hall while Glitch took his seat at the table. "Sillybug, come eat!" he called.
Drill-Bit came into the dining room a few moments later. Glitch waited for her to notice him. It didn't take long. As soon as their eyes met, she scurried up to him for a hug. "Glitch!" she squealed.
She landed in his arms. He found himself laughing as he scooped her up. "There's my Captain Rustbug!" he beamed. "How many voyages have ya been on since I been gone, huh?"
"Lots!" Drill-Bit eagerly replied. "And guess what? I got a new crew member!"
Once Glitch put her down, she happily held up the doll she brought with her. Glitch beheld a little pioneer bot in a pink dress. Underneath the gold yarn for hair, she had turquoise eyes that matched Drill-Bit's.
"What's her name?" Glitch asked her.
"Marigold!" Drill-Bit declared.
"Hi, Marigold!" Glitch took her little plastic hand and shook it. "That's a pretty name ya got there. I'm Glitch!"
"She knows," Drill-Bit said, grinning. "I told 'er 'bout ya!"
"Alright, you, come sit down." Mister Fixit directed her to her seat at the table. "You can sit at the end if ya want," he told her, "since you're a big girl!"
This excited Drill-Bit even more. She plopped down into the chair at one of the ends of the table and placed Marigold in her lap. Mister Fixit sat at the opposite end. Glitch faced forward in his chair. The table was already set up with plates, utensils, and drinks. Fresh ones. Glitch wondered where Rev could have been in all this. The thought, however, was almost completely overpowered by the good smells. They surprised Glitch. Was Mister Fixit not a bad chef after all?
Glitch gathered the courage to ask the infamous question. "So, uh, what'd you make?"
"Me?" Mister Fixit belted out one of his signature cackles. "I didn't do the cookin'!" he said.
Glitch quickly grew confused. "You didn't?"
"Is he here, Dad?"
Rev came into the dining room holding a baking dish with oven mitts. She briefly stopped at the entrance when she saw Glitch at the table. All he could do was look back at her in astonishment.
"Yep, he came in right on time!" Mister Fixit answered her question. "That cogwheel casserole is smellin' mighty good, as usual!"
"Thanks!" Rev said. "I was gonna give it more time to cool off, but it should be all right."
Glitch watched her set the dish on a towel. She gave Drill-Bit her portion first since she was closest, then Mister Fixit, and finally Glitch. He was still at a loss for words. Rev tried to read his speechless face while she made his plate. She fixed her own afterwards and settled in her spot across from Glitch. She pleasantly looked at him. Glitch smiled back. He would've liked to focus on her more, but the amazing smell of the casserole she baked distracted him.
"Alrighty!" said Mister Fixit. "Let's dig in!"
The dinner went well. It comprised of normal, everyday conversations and the occasional joke—from Mister Fixit, of course. In fact, he did most of the talking. Glitch figured he loved dinner time since it happened to be the perfect chance for him to tell long anecdotes. He only stopped once to scold Drill-Bit for playing with her food. Serval padded into the dining room at some point to join his family. He noticed Glitch and provided him with one of his neutral stares. He wasn't necessarily thrilled to see Glitch there, but not upset, either. After eying the new addition to the bunch for a bit longer, he settled on the floor next to Mister Fixit's foot.
Rev quietly ate her fill of casserole. Glitch caught the occasional green glow from her optics. Every time she even so much as thought he was looking at her, she glanced down again, pretending to be oblivious. It not only amused Glitch, but allured him. Halfway through the dinner, he thought he felt one of Rev's wheels gently rolling against his leg under the table. This time, she didn't avert her gaze when he looked in her direction. Glitch played along, smirking.
They didn't say much until dinner ended. Glitch helped Rev clear the table, while Mister Fixit got Drill-Bit (and Marigold) ready for bed. Rev came back from putting away the rest of the cogwheel casserole and rejoined Glitch at the table. Serval quietly analyzed him one last time, then slunk out of sight. Glitch laughed to himself. Serval saw their game of footsies under the table, surely. Rev caught on to the slender cat's body language, too. She forgivingly watched him go and turned to Glitch. "He's still adjusting," she whispered.
"Aw, that's fine," Glitch understandingly told her. "He's not trying to claw me to pieces, that's a good sign."
Rev laughed and finished her drink. "How'd you like the food?" she asked afterwards.
"Aw, man, it was great!" Glitch said. "Didn't know you cooked." He chuckled. "Dr. Axon told me there was nothing to worry about. You must do it pretty often."
"Uh-huh!" Rev replied. "I usually do. Dad's got busy work hours, so I try to have somethin' ready!"
"You're good at it, pretty eyes."
The double-compliment pleasantly surprised Rev quite a bit. "Thank you." She modestly smiled at him with her head down a little. "I didn't know it'd make ya so flirty. I should feed ya more often."
"Hey, don't threaten me with a good time!" Glitch jokingly warned. "Unless you wanna."
"I do." Rev winked at him.
Her enticing response won Glitch over. He reached across the table and took her hands. Her delicate metal fingers intermingled with his. He kissed them. They warmed up his lip. Rev allowed him to cover her digits in affectionate pecks. Her head was still lowered afterwards. Glitch could see her demure smile.
"You wanna get outta here, gorgeous?" he offered.
Rev playfully raised a brow. "Another date?" she projected. "Already?"
"I mean, hey, if you want it to be!" Glitch granted. "I'll leave it up to you where we go this time!"
Rev's face brightened with determination at the chance. She loved having the decision left up to her, Glitch could tell. She spent some time thinking to herself. Glitch wondered what she would come up with. Eventually, she made up her mind. "Can you take me driving tonight?" she requested.
"Really?" Glitch blinked at her. "Just a drive?"
"Is that too easy?" Rev teased. "Not a big enough challenge for the hero of Iron Star?"
"It sounds perfect," Glitch endearingly stated.
His approval of the idea left Rev visibly excited. Neither of them wasted another second as they got up from the table. Glitch was just as stoked as Rev was when a thought stopped him.
"I should probably let Mister Fixit know—"
Rev was too eager to let him finish. She pulled him out of the house by the hand. Glitch dropped the suggestion and allowed her to drag him along.
...
A nightly drive in the desert turned out to be perfect after all. Maybe it was the simplicity that made it so special. The best part for Glitch, though, was always the enjoyment Rev exhibited. He felt the excitement in every happy squeal and laugh. At first, Glitch rode fast enough for the wind to whip past them. Rev put out her hands and held her head back to experience the cool breeze. Glitch slowed the RAT down a little so they could take in the sceneries. There was something about seeing the desert at night. The silver radiance of the full moon made it feel like a different place, a magical one. Rev kicked back in the passenger seat, and Glitch got comfortable as he drove. They gave pleased looks at each other. Glitch loved the way Rev's glossy exterior reflected the moonlight. He kept one hand on the wheel and extended the other to take hers. Rev interlocked her fingers with his.
"I want you to see something!" she announced suddenly.
"Oh, yeah?" Glitch glanced at her. "What is it?"
"It should be a straight shot from here," Rev told him. "Just keep driving a bit longer, I'll let you know."
"You got it." Glitch did what she said. He rode along for a few more minutes until Rev told him to stop. He halted the RAT and expectantly looked at her. Rev pointed up ahead. Glitch followed her finger and felt his jaw drop a little. The desert ground in front of them was covered in circular formations that had been created in the dirt. They were outlined by rocks and metal. Glitch got out of the RAT and helped Rev down. He sat on the hood with her. "What are those?" he asked her.
"Sprite circles," Rev said.
"Sprite circles?" Glitch repeated. "Why're they called that?"
"The Ridgebolt locals believe they were made by actual sprite bots," Rev explained. "Supposedly, they bring good luck to the inhabitants of the land. But nobody knows for sure. They're just, kinda there." She smiled at Glitch. "I think it's true," she added.
Glitch raised a brow at her. "Word? Why's that?"
Rev kissed his cheek. "Because we're together, silly!"
"You might be right, then," Glitch agreed. "Come 'ere!"
He took Rev in his arms. She laughed as he pulled her onto his lap and covered her in kisses. He gave her a final one on the forehead. She looked intently into his eyes when he pulled his head away. Glitch wanted to enjoy the moment: her warm metal pressed against his as he held her, the gorgeous shine of her green and blue paint under the moonlight. But something dulled his hopes just faintly. He considered telling Rev what he was thinking, but he didn't want to ruin their time. Maybe she would understand, he figured. She would, surely. Glitch wasn't certain, though. He continued to quietly hold Rev while he decided. She studied his distant face.
"You okay?"
Her question pulled Glitch out of his thoughts. He managed to meet her gaze again. "Can I tell you something?" he asked her.
"Anything," Rev sweetly answered.
"We're gonna be leaving Ridgebolt again," Glitch told her. "Soon."
He was glad he got it off his chest, but he hated to see Rev's reaction. Immediately, her optimism somewhat faded. "How soon?" she quietly asked.
"The day after tomorrow," Glitch said.
Rev's face clouded with disbelief. She fell silent and lowered her head. Glitch hurt inside just seeing her response.
"Gee," Rev sighed. "That really is soon."
"Dr. Axon said it's better to leave early," Glitch elaborated. "To beat the weather where we're going."
Rev didn't answer. She sadly focused on the sandy ground underneath them. Her head rested against Glitch's shoulder while she had her arms around him. His gentle grip stayed around her waist. He wished there was something better. He knew how difficult this would be for Rev; she got homesick easily. It was around that moment an idea came to Glitch's mind.
"Would you wanna stay this time?" he suggested.
Rev looked at him. "You mean, stay in Ridgebolt?"
"I don't want you to miss your family," Glitch reasoned. "And I don't wanna keep dragging you away from them."
Rev shook her head. "No way," she protested. "I don't care how homesick I get. I'm taggin' along every time."
Glitch smiled sadly. "Oh, Rev," he murmured. "Are ya sure?"
"Hell yeah, I'm sure!" Rev insisted. "It's thoughtful of you to let me stay home. But don't feel bad. You're not dragging me away from anything. We're in this together."
She guided Glitch's head to hers. He allowed her to caress his face.
"I'm stickin' by your side, soldier," she softly vowed.
Glitch felt their metal lips press together. This kiss was long and slow. They didn't break apart as they lowered onto the RAT's hood. The bright moonlight overhead illuminated them. Glitch was no longer aware of anything else. The heat from their hardware warmed him up in the cool air, and their racing pulses filled his auditory sensors. He longed for no interruptions, just him and Rev only. Afterwards, she looked up at him, pleased.
"So much for a simple night drive," she remarked.
"Right?" Glitch jovially agreed.
They laughed together as they readjusted themselves on the hood. Glitch held Rev while she rested on him. They lay there, fulfilled by each other's company. Rev playfully ran her fingers over Glitch's shoulder gear.
"It's such a pretty night," she commented.
"Yeah, true," Glitch said. "But you're way prettier."
Rev laughed, flattered. "Stop it!"
"Nope!" Glitch insisted. "My mind's made up. I'm goin' with the prettiest girl in the west."
"And I was chosen by a big, strong, good-lookin' hero!" Rev added.
She sat up to get a kiss. Glitch gave her one. She smiled and resettled her head on him.
"I don't deserve you," he whispered.
"Oh, yeah, you do," Rev objected, still playing with his straps. "Be nicer to yourself, that's an order!"
Glitch chuckled. "Yes, ma'am."
"So!" Rev cheerily began after a while. "Where's the journey takin' us next? Did Dr. Axon say?"
"Metal region," Glitch revealed. "It's gonna have a tropical climate, apparently."
"Ooooh." Rev slyly snickered. "The tropics, huh? Sounds romantic."
"Oh, you definitely wanna go now, don't ya?" Glitch joked.
"If it means I get to wear a sarong," Rev said.
"Welp, it's official!" Glitch happily stated. "I'm the luckiest robot alive!"
"Thank the sprite bots!" Rev reminded him, pointing to the circles.
"I will. After this."
Glitch got ready to kiss Rev again. They were only an inch or so apart when a staticky transmission stung his antenna. Glitch jumped back from Rev, more abruptly than he meant to.
"Glitch, what's wrong?" she asked.
"I-I think I'm getting something." Glitch rubbed his head. The discomfort only grew worse as the static got stronger. His antenna was trying to pick up a signal, but it was horrible. He finally thought he heard a voice coming through.
"Glitch…in…come in…are…"
"Colonel?" Glitch sat up. "Colonel, is that you? What's going on?"
The voice was succeeded by a series of pops and crashes. They were loud and clear through the static. Glitch's core dropped to his feet. Gunshots. Explosions.
"Glitch, what is it?" Rev pressed. "What's happening?"
"Get in the RAT and buckle up." Glitch scrambled over the hood to reach the driver side. "I'll tell you on the way!"
Rev listened. Once they were both in, Glitch started up the RAT, turned it around, and took off back to Ridgebolt. He dropped Rev off at home. She was trembling a little in his arms as he helped her down. She started for the front door, but not without worriedly turning to him again.
"You'll be safe here," he promised. "I'm gonna fuel up and head out."
"Should I tell the others?"
"Yeah. Call Dr. Axon and tell him something's gone down in Droid Town. I'll be back, ok?"
Rev didn't look convinced.
Glitch reached down from the driver side of the RAT to caress her cheek. "It's gonna be all right," he reassured her. "I'll be back by here before ya know it."
"I love you," Rev murmured.
Glitch felt a small drop of oil stream onto his hand from her right optic. He wiped the tear from her face with his thumb. "I love you, too," he softly reciprocated.
Rev kissed his hand before he withdrew it and prepared to pull off again. She stood back and watched him speed away from the house.
He booked it for Droid Town as soon as he refueled the RAT. Countless thoughts traveled through his head during his race across the night desert. All he could think about was the chaos he heard over the weak transmission. The voice belonged to Colonel Alloy, he was certain. The possibilities of what might have happened flooded his processors. He fought away the worst one out of them all. Alloy wasn't killed. He couldn't have been, Glitch refused to believe it.
He got there in a few hours without stopping. Glitch parked the RAT outside of Droid Town's outer entrance. He advanced toward it, armed and loaded. The security at the checkpoint had been wiped out by whatever came through. Glitch forced himself to keep moving past the broken yellow remains of the Droid soldiers. He hoped his return wouldn't include such an image.
The outer sectors didn't look any better. To Glitch's dismay, there were even more dead bots. Fragments from soldier and civilian alike cluttered the streets. The deeper Glitch traveled, the more destruction awaited him. He dreaded seeing the innermost districts.
His worries were quickly confirmed. Glitch's shocked blue optics fell upon the heavily damaged square. The smell of smoke tainted the air as landmarks and buildings burned. He saw them, the invaders responsible. Advanced Mil troops occupied the areas. Some were still in the process of uprooting Droids from their homes. Banners with the Mil insignia hung over the front of the Droid Rebellion. Glitch staggered back, horrified.
Droid Town had been taken over.